Hegseth: SPACECOM in Huntsville is "common sense"
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Pete Hegseth is the third Secretary of Defense to visit Redstone Arsenal. Screenshot: Courtesy of Department of Defense
U.S. Space Command's move to Huntsville sure looks like a done deal.
Why it matters: A political football for years and the target of an ongoing lawsuit, SPACECOM's new home at Redstone Arsenal was symbolically solidified Friday with a sign unveiling that brought out the top brass.
Zoom in: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth joined Alabama's congressional delegation, SPACECOM Commander Gen. Stephen Whiting and Air Force Secretary Troy Meink at the event Friday.
- The mood was celebratory and the focus was on the arsenal's fitness.
What they're saying: "This is the place to continue to establish space dominance," Hegseth said. "Right here in Alabama."
- "It's common sense that this is precisely where Space Command should be," he said. "It is common sense that we need to move rapidly and expeditiously, and we will."
- "The quicker we establish this, the more robust the capabilities are, the more likely we are able to deter the next conflict and, if necessary, stand prepared to overwhelmingly defeat our enemies," Hegseth said.
Context: Speakers gave credit to Rep. Mike Rogers (Ala.-3), chair of the House Armed Services Committee, whom Sen. Katie Britt said "led the way for all of us" and "made this possible."
- Rogers talked Friday about President Trump's reestablishment of Space Command in 2019, which kicked off a national competition for its headquarters.
- "Huntsville, Alabama, won that competition," Rogers said. "There were some states that didn't appreciate that fact. They complained about it. ... We had another competition. Huntsville, Alabama, won it again."
Catch up quick: Space Command's move to Huntsville is continuing per Trump's order, despite a lawsuit from Colorado attempting to halt it.
- Colorado's suit says the Trump administration violated the law by basing the move on Colorado's voting practices and it failed to provide proper notice to congressional leaders.
The bottom line: As Whiting told Axios last week: "We've been given direction from the president, and that's what we're going to implement."